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  1. #26
    Thailand Expat
    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    Guess I have to esssssplain my self more clearly... the comment about the gin was strictly tongue-in-cheek. If that is the biggest stumbling block I'll be a happy camper.

    As for "modcons", I need nothing that isn't here or close by. Not a fan of Nana, Cowboy or other "hot" spots other than an afternoon beer or two on occasion. The rest is all here or readily available.

    As for fresh bread, I do that myself quite well, thanks Mr. Earl no need for Lao, but am anxious to get hold of some dark Lao beer.

    The Tesco here just doesn't compare with Tesco Srinakarin or Bangna for that matter. Its pretty much totally geared toward Lao folks needing basics. From what little interaction I've had so far with expats, most do their real shopping in Udon, 50 clicks away.

    Have found a nice little pub/restaurant on the bank of the Mekong that is friendly and has good food and cold Leo... Nice spot for sundowners.

    E. G.
    "If you can't stand the answer --
    Don't ask the question!"

  2. #27
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    Sorry maybe that is why I don't post much, have to remember that folks with no history would not understand I was only taking the piss. But of course I do know how much it hurts you to paid extra! Just could not let it pass with you living the dream as it were.

    Doing fine, living alone was getting old. The tunnel opens tonight, so next month off to something temporary until the next big one starts up hopefully later this year.

    Enjoy your drinks at the "Center" say hello for me.

  3. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by El Gibbon
    Have found a nice little pub/restaurant on the bank of the Mekong that is friendly and has good food and cold Leo... Nice spot for sundowners.
    nothing better than to relax with a beer and watch the river flowing by as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon.
    Oh happy days

  4. #29
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    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    Spent a good part of the afternoon there today. Very helpful folks too. Turned me on to a fellow that does imports (for a price) of just about all food items, mentioned Branson's pickles, piccalilli, hams, sauces etc.

    Will check it out soon.

    And it turns out the pub dude makes really decent sausages (better that the Fat Boys that Makro 'used' to carry), fried up a couple tonight with potato salad and it was bangers... lol

    Haven't tried his pies yet but rumor has it they are pretty decent.

    Happy days truly

    oh, and he carries my favorite afternoon beer, Leo lek... gotta love it in the outcountry.

    E. G.

    EDIT: The river is so low now that you can surely wade across it. One of the guys in the bar said he was upstream the other day and the sand banks were no more than 30 meters apart... Not good news for those down stream for sure... The river is the lowest ever in Nong Khai since they started keeping records.

  5. #30
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    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kjameson View Post
    Sorry maybe that is why I don't post much, have to remember that folks with no history would not understand I was only taking the piss. But of course I do know how much it hurts you to paid extra! Just could not let it pass with you living the dream as it were.

    Doing fine, living alone was getting old. The tunnel opens tonight, so next month off to something temporary until the next big one starts up hopefully later this year.

    Enjoy your drinks at the "Center" say hello for me.
    Had a bit of a laugh today at the bar. Just redid it and they only have 6 bottles of hard stuff on the shelf...

    One was Jameson and guess what the other?????


    Yep Gilbey's Gin too funny

    E. G.

  6. #31
    Thailand Expat nedwalk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kjameson
    Doing fine, living alone was getting old. The tunnel opens tonight, so next month off to something temporary until the next big one starts up hopefully later this year. Enjoy your drinks at the "Center" say hello for me.
    HELLO KJ.. we met at the brekky creek, good luck on your next venture mate

  7. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by El Gibbon View Post
    Turned me on to a fellow that does imports (for a price) of just about all food items, mentioned Branson's pickles, piccalilli, hams, sauces etc.
    there is a place here in Udon that stocks all those Pommie condiments, You are only an hour away from me so will have to talk with the fat boy and arrange a ride up to see you,

  8. #33
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    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    Look forward to it... will be back in the area over the weekend hopefully.

    E. G.

  9. #34
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    Had a bit of a laugh today at the bar. Just redid it and they only have 6 bottles of hard stuff on the shelf...

    One was Jameson and guess what the other?????


    Yep Gilbey's Gin too funny

    E. G.[/quote]

    Now that is a class place! The man knows how to stock a bar!

    OS messed up the quote. Will work on that.

  10. #35
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    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    Thought you would appreciate the irony, we could both partake of the "favorites" lol

    Off for Bangers in the morning to collect the rest.

    E. G.

  11. #36
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    You need the[quote]
    in front and then the again at the end +/ [/quote
    ] and you'll get this...

    Quote Originally Posted by kjameson
    Had a bit of a laugh today at the bar. Just redid it and they only have 6 bottles of hard stuff on the shelf... One was Jameson and guess what the other????? Yep Gilbey's Gin too funny E. G.
    Last edited by klongmaster; 16-03-2010 at 05:20 PM.

  12. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pink Panty View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by smeden View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by smeden
    lau kaouv
    What's that then?
    it is maybe not spellt corect but it is the cheap buse the locals drink it smels like bad moonshine
    Thai home made wisky isn't it?
    That's plain old rice whiskey ... like a lot of the locals drink.

  13. #38
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    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Childress View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Pink Panty View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by smeden View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by smeden
    lau kaouv
    What's that then?
    it is maybe not spellt corect but it is the cheap buse the locals drink it smels like bad moonshine
    Thai home made wisky isn't it?
    That's plain old rice whiskey ... like a lot of the locals drink.
    I thought that was lao kao.

  14. #39
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    Thai Pom's Avatar
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    No body say anything bad about "the Gibbon" ( for at least 10 seconds). He has just delivered a case of Dark Beer Lao to my doorstep!!!

  15. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by nedwalk View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by kjameson
    Doing fine, living alone was getting old. The tunnel opens tonight, so next month off to something temporary until the next big one starts up hopefully later this year. Enjoy your drinks at the "Center" say hello for me.
    HELLO KJ.. we met at the brekky creek, good luck on your next venture mate

    Hey nedwalk, remember, enjoyed the beers. We are hoping to get the next tunnel job here. Have grown to like it here, hope to stick around for a bit. How is life in the country?

  16. #41
    Thailand Expat nedwalk's Avatar
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    bloody marvelous up here in hillbilly country mate, i shall be slipping through the big smoke next weekend again, off to ADELAIDE for the weekend..
    good luck with the next one, i see they are haveing a few hick ups with the new one, just teething problems i presume

  17. #42
    Member Rascal's Avatar
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    or a one legged man in a ass kicking contest?

  18. #43
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    El Gibbon's Avatar
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    OK, settled and getting on with life finally. Since last posting have made two trips to
    BKK and been active getting settled.

    Made a quick trip to the city to gather the remnants of the household stuff to move. An interesting trip as we drove down on the Thursday prior to the BIG rally

    Must have passed a minimum of 25 checkpoints between Nong Khai and the ring road. Most though were unattended. Did get caught up in one around Khon Kaen, too funny. The red shirts must be dafft if they think they can convoy twenty some odd pickups loaded to the gunnels with red shirt clad folks, flying big flags with Mr. T's moniker on them and not expect to get stopped or hassled.

    Coppers were out in full force with army backup and photogs in tow. They searched every single truck apparently, offloading all the 'shirts' and going over the truck with a fine tooth comb.

    I was pretty well surprised by the age of the conscripts attending each of these checkpoints as they didn't seem old enough to know the proper end of an assault rifle, bwdik?

    Arrived in BKK in time for evening cocktails at the "center". Packed on Fri. Came back on Sat. and was unpacked and having a beer at 6PM. Easy trip compared to others I have made across the US.

    Plenty of opportunities for coffee, food and pit stops along the way. Am definitely a fan of the PTT shops, they have everything a traveler could want. As usual in every restroom we stopped at there was someone cleaning the looo. Never fails, I can't remember the last time I stopped at a PTT and not found someone cleaning the rest rooms. They do know how to run a convenience stop for fuel, coffee or anything else.

    E. G.

  19. #44
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    We have pretty much organized and arranged all the additional "stuff" I brought. Had to purchase a couple of storage racks and an additional 'pantry' cupboard, but it is all in and as of yesterday everything has found a place. Books, computers, clothes, pots pans, baking stuff and food stuffs have all found their homes. lolol

    Have a wireless setup now also so can work from my "office" (pic to come later) and the "short one" can use her computer without bother. UBC has been installed and the 13 year old is loving it, spends most of the day planted in front of it. Course, he really doesn't care too much for watching CNN for two hours in the morning but doesn't complain tooooooo loudly lol.

    I am really getting to like this city. There is everything here, just have to dig it out. Have been able to find just about anything we need. Stumbled into a shop a week ago looking for a cabinet or desk for the additional computer equipment, WOW

    This place was huge - I figure it was about 2 rai under one roof - had everything you would need to set up a house. From bed linens to pots and pans to every imaginable piece of basic furniture, kitchen stoves, friges, sinks etc. a real find.

    Came out of there with a computer desk - quite sturdy, a pantry cabinet and a set of steel storage shelving that took three guys to carry. all for just at 10,000 baht and delivered and set up in an hour.

    E. G.

  20. #45
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Great news mate and I hope you and yours will remain happy in your new environment.

    I'll have to get up there for a visit one day soon.

  21. #46
    Member ralphinlaos's Avatar
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    El Gibbon - I enjoy reading your posts and it sounds like you have found a home in NongKhai. Good for you; I lived there and enjoyed it (for a year, recovering from back surgery.

    I remember the place in NongKhai that sold baking goods - flour, spices, raisins, etc. I wonder if there is a similar place in Udon where I can buy whole wheat flour - or any kind of flour other than bleached white. And whole wheat pastas?

    I'm going to see if I can find that tool store you were talking about. I wonder if I will find a post-hole digger there. I can't find one in Laos.

    And PeterPan was talking about a place in Udon where you can buy condiments and other imports - do you know where that is?

    Thanks again.

    Ralph

  22. #47
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ralphinlaos
    I wonder if there is a similar place in Udon where I can buy whole wheat flour - or any kind of flour other than bleached white.
    I believe Peter knows where to get it. He makes some mighty fine whole wheat bread.

  23. #48
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    Ralph The guy selling flour and bits is still in operation, got some basics from him the other day. He carries whole wheat, rye etc. should do you well.

    When you reach Udon - from Nong Khai - turn left on the ring road and its on your left, before you get to Global. I made a quick pass through the store and didn't see any post hole diggers, doesn't mean they are not there (they have a boat load of odd stuff), just I didn't see them in my perusal.

    As for condiments etc. (Branston pickles, piccalilli etc) there is a small shop in Nong Khai that does a lot of odd (European - American) stuff. just before you cross the bridge, and I mean JUST before, there is a row of shop houses on the right. In the middle of the last set of shops you'll find Nong Khai Direct, an importer of farang food stuffs. Ham, lamb, and dry goods not normally found in any Thai market or big box store.

    E. G.

  24. #49
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    sounds great good luck

  25. #50
    Thailand Expat
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    Beer Belly Billie's an uptown watering hole :)

    And I keep trying to call the proprietor Billy, wonder why?

    I have no idea why the name as I can't understand Peter's (the proprietor) accent clearly yet... give me time... He says its normal from where he is from, 15 klics outside of Manchester in a town between Brumley and something... lolol

    A very diverse clientele inhabits this little place making newcomers welcome in an instant. Probably glad to have a seppo to take the piss out of. Although there are other seppos there a newby is fresh meat. lol

    Have yet to try the full menu but what I have had is above average. Cottage pie, yumm, burger - good for Thailand, apple pie and ice cream just like mother used to do, and his sausages are great as mentioned in a prior post.

    Very cold beer a definite plus when its 40 in the shade, and a nice view overlooking the river, more like a creek nowadays.



    The Mekong is outrageously low right now, claims are its the lowest in over 150 years or as far back as records are kept.

    The following pic shows the remnants of an old Thai temple that was submerged when the river changed course and 'ate' it up. That was over a hundred years ago apparently. A new one has been built on the current bank.


    From the tales being told the very top of the flags you see are the warnings for river travelers that there is a submerged obstacle. It may not look like a lot but don't forget the river is over a kilometer wide at this point. The figure you see at the front of the boat is standing up so you get an idea of how much the river has receded. Very impressive. Some smart Thai's have organized these boat trips to the corner of the temple that is showing and it is now festooned with ribbons etc. With the accompanying food stalls, shills hawking their wares near the current temple which is the jumping off point for the boat trip.

    In the first photo you can see three dredging operations that run during daylight hours. They must have taken thousands of truck loads of dirt off the bottom. Wish I could get hold of several hundred truck loads myself.

    Peter and his customers have been a fount of information, from the bakery supplies to how to deal with immigration locally, they have been very helpful and without snide comments etc.

    Its like sitting in the "center" LT but with a more diverse population. Not to say there was anything amiss with the company at the "center" lol

    Peter has also introduced me to the Victory golf course and his playing partners on Wed. mornings. The course is magnificent, the grounds around it could use some serious upkeep but I hear that is coming now that Chang Beer has purchased the course. I imagine they will want to run a tournament or two there as main sponsors. The layout is very good, never two holes alike and the greens are brutal.... never did see a straight and level put... but maybe that's because of where I was on the greens. whew interesting day on the links, hopefully I'll become more familiar with it as the weeks go on.

    E. G.
    EDIT: change pic sizing
    Last edited by El Gibbon; 04-04-2010 at 11:55 AM.

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